Gears of War - 360

Platform: Xbox 360
Company: Epic

Guns, guts and aliens, what more could you ask for? Gears of War delivers on all three, and does it fantastically.

Graphics:
Even without a High-Def TV this game has mind-blowing graphics, from the incredible details on the landscape to the skin details on the characters, you can even see wrinkles that move with their face! The physics in the game are top-notch thanks to the Unreal 3 engine used to create all the effects. The game really earned the 18 rating it received with the graphic gore contained within, like one of your guns has a chainsaw bayonet that, you guessed it, cuts the enemy in half. Not only does blood spray the surrounding area but also the game screen for a few seconds. Even the cutscenes use the in-game graphics and without a High-Def TV this game looks almost real. This is a game where you could literally spend all day admiring the graphics, even standing on a pier in the middle of a rainstorm with water below you will give you an unforgettable experience.

Sound:
Can't fault it one bit, the music is atmospheric and well-timed, letting you know when enemies are nearby and when they've been dealt with, or if there's an important event going on. The weapon sounds are excellent too, each weapon sounding unique and distinctive, and what's more there is a specific enemy (called a Berserker) that locates you by sound, forcing you to use it to your advantage. The voice talent has been well implemented, the main character is voiced by John Dimaggio (Bender from Futurama), the in-game speech allows for some classic one-liners to pop up at just the right moment. Not to mention the speech in cutscenes is well-synced and believable.

Gameplay:
Here is where the game falls short, it doesn't take long to complete, there are 5 Acts in all and if played well and on an appropriate difficulty setting can be finished in less than a week. There is a replayability aspect though in trying to beat all three difficulty levels which is no easy task. Also you have an option to team up with a friend and play the storyline co-operatively with no loss in quality or the storyline. The use of cover is very well-done, the game forces you to make use of the system otherwise you will die very quickly.

Storyline:
Playing the game from start to finish has a good chance of leaving you with a lot of questions, mainly because the game takes place 14 years after what is called Emergence Day, when the aliens rose from beneath the surface of the planet Sera to begin their war on the human race. Certain events take place between then and when the game begins that give your character a reputation, which is only hinted at during the game. But while it is confusing at times the storyline is a good one if you read into it, and the next two games in the series will shed a lot more light on the story as a whole.

Overall scores:
Graphics 10/10
Sound 10/10
Gameplay 8/10
Storyline 9/10

Total 9/10

In conclusion, this game is one of the best I have played in a very long time, it's certainly a game I would recommend getting an Xbox 360 for, even if you never play anything else. The multiplayer aspect is something to keep the game going for a long time even after you play the single player mode to death.

I hope you found this review helpful and informative